Chapter 519
Chapter 519
Chapter 519. Ice and Fire (7)
I followed behind Young Palace Head Maeng.
He was heading there according to my intentions.
“To tell you the truth, the place we are going is somewhere outsiders cannot be allowed to see.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
I asked as though I had not known.
“Is that so?” (MC)
“So please never tell anyone else that you entered that place.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind.” (MC)
Soon, we arrived there.
Perhaps to keep others from approaching, it was a place surrounded by high walls.
“Please wait a moment.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
He went inside and came back out, then said to me.
“You may enter now.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
“Yes.” (MC)
Young Master Hae decided to stand watch outside.
Creak.
When I opened the door and stepped in, a wide courtyard came into view.
It was a truly beautiful place, with the surrounding buildings decorated in jade-colored metamorphic rock mined from Cangshan in Dali, Yunnan.
From that alone, I could tell.
That this was a rather important building.
“It seems something important is being stored here.” (MC)
“This is where the treasures of our Zhurong Palace are kept.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
“That is why you restrict outsiders from entering.” (MC)
“It is also where books recording the history of our Zhurong Palace and important documents are kept.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
Then I came to the right place.
But still, this fellow really is……
He has the same name as the boy Maeng Hyeon who makes alcohol with Craftsman Yeong Gujin, so why is he this stupid?
Is it really all right for someone like this to become the next Palace Head?
Even if we are both Outer Regions forces and even if we are in the middle of ceasefire talks, the Northern Sea Ice Palace is still a hostile force to Zhurong Palace.
We may become enemies again and clash at any time, yet he lets me into this place and even explains it to me…….
If the Palace Head finds out, Young Palace Head Maeng will be beaten half to death.
But none of this is my responsibility.
Even if I suggested going here, there would have been no problem if he had simply refused outright.
To be honest, I did prod him a little, but I never thought he would fall for it this easily.
Even I was slightly flustered.
Perhaps in my previous life, the reason Zhurong Palace’s power rapidly weakened was because Young Palace Head Maeng became Palace Head and ruined the palace.
Shrrng.
He drew his sword.
“Draw your sword.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
At that, I did not decline and drew my sword.
Then I made a suggestion to him.
“It would not be good for us to draw blood from each other, so let us decide victory and defeat another way.” (MC)
“What do you mean?” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
I held out the plate I had prepared beforehand and said.
“Tie this plate to your body. If this plate breaks, you lose.” (MC)
“Very well.” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
Each of us tied a plate in front of our chest.
Then, we assumed our starting stances.
I quietly examined Young Palace Head Maeng’s realm.
At this level, he’s at the entrance to the peak realm, isn’t he?
From what I had heard, Young Palace Head Maeng was one year older than me.
In truth, if one reached the peak realm at twenty-four, one would be called at least a talented youth, or even a genius, anywhere.
Young Palace Head Bing Haerin and I are the unusual ones.
In any case, it must be because he was at about that level that he confidently barged into the Palace Head’s office yesterday.
And now he was not avoiding a match with me either.
Taat!
At that moment, Young Palace Head Maeng charged toward me first and swung his sword.
Fwoosh!
Flames rose from the sword.
He’s using the Scorching Flame Arts from the very beginning! He is serious in his own way.
I avoided the attack with a simple evasive movement.
In truth, this was not my first time fighting against a martial artist who used the Scorching Flame Arts.
In my previous life, there had been people among the black path who used the Scorching Flame Arts.
Moreover, Master Jin Yeong’s martial arts were also Scorching Flame Arts.
But compared to the Scorching Flame Arts of Zhurong Palace, any other Scorching Flame Arts were candles before a bonfire.
Fwoooosh! Fwoosh!
The sight of him freely controlling fire was like watching a god of fire.
Just like Young Palace Head Maeng before me now.
An ordinary martial artist would have been flustered by that sight alone, but I remained calm.
The difference in skill between him and me was immense, and my martial arts were rooted in the cold qi of the North Sea.
I poured inner arts into my sword and unfolded my swordsmanship.
The eighth technique of the Twelve Forms of the True Snow Sword Art. One-Point Black Ice.
A single-strike killing technique.
Fire arts are flashy, and because of that, on a dark night like this they can be seen clearly even from far away.
That means we will be discovered quickly.
To create time for me to search this place, I have to end this in one blow.
I raised my sword and focused every nerve toward him.
Saaaaaak!
“Hup!” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
He raised his sword with a flustered face and tried to defend.
Sorry, but you’re already too late.
From the beginning, this is the difference between the transcendent peak and the entrance to the peak realm.
There is no way he can block an attack I made with all my strength.
Thud!
My sword touched his chest, and the plate shattered.
“I-I lost……” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
But this was not the end of what I wanted.
I pummeled him dozens of times with my fist.
Pababababak!
“Gak!” (Young Palace Head Maeng)
My inner arts shook his insides, and he fainted.
Thud.
Whew, now I finally feel a little better.
I approached him and shook his body.
“Excuse me, are you all right? Hello?” (MC)
But his body did not move at all.
He had definitely fainted.
Then I should hurry and look through the records.
I quickly examined the qi in the surroundings. It was to see whether anyone might be guarding the place.
There was still no one around.
It was thanks to Young Palace Head Maeng having sent out everyone who had been here earlier.
He must have done so to avoid getting caught for letting me into this place, but it ended up helping me.
I swiftly moved my body and entered the pavilion.
The documents were kept on the bookshelves of the second floor.
I went up to the second floor and quickly scanned the shelves.
Found it.
Records from over twenty years ago.
I took out the book and turned its pages.
The book was a kind of diary recorded daily by the Palace Head of that time.
I quickly skimmed through it and stopped at one place.
[The people of the Northern Sea Ice Palace arrived at our palace for the Ice-Flame Meeting.
However, the people of Seolpung Palace were nowhere to be seen.
So when I asked, all they did was deliver the tragic news that it had been annihilated by someone.
At this, Young Palace Head Jin was deeply saddened.
For losing one’s only worthy rival is an exceedingly sorrowful thing.
I began to wonder just where the ones who had annihilated Seolpung Palace were, and I started an investigation.
Because the fact that a force of the Outer Regions had been annihilated meant that we, too, could become their target.]
What?
According to this record, the current Palace Head was acquainted with Master?
Is that why she treated me kindly?
And that means they are not the culprit who annihilated Seolpung Palace?
I turned the pages again.
It was possible that the previous Zhurong Palace Head had discovered the culprit who caused the disaster at Seolpung Palace.
As I was quickly turning the pages, my gaze stopped on one record.
[I heard about the mysterious phenomena occurring at Mount Muchulmu. I headed to Mount Muchulmu with Hwasik.
There, I saw a sword being guarded by a mad martial artist.
The sword embedded in the rock was undoubtedly the Silver Mist Sword, the sacred object of the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace.
I tried to retrieve the Silver Mist Sword, but I could not.
Because there was a spiritual beast guarding the Silver Mist Sword.
A spiritual beast called Hanhosu.
Because that spiritual beast did not permit it, in the end the Silver Mist Sword had to be left there.]
Ah, so this is the record of that day Geumryeong mentioned, when Hwasik tried to take the Silver Mist Sword.
According to this record, he had not been trying to take the sword away, but to recover it.
Geumryeong had misunderstood that as trying to steal it.
[However, I sensed something familiar from that mad martial artist.
At first I did not notice, but the more I thought about it, the more his outward appearance was exactly the same as the traits seen in descendants of Doyeonmun.]
Doyeonmun?
Where is that now?
It is a place I had never heard of even in my previous life.
If someone of the Zhurong Palace Head’s standing was this certain, then the mad martial artist must be of Doyeonmun’s bloodline.
Whew, for now it seems certain that Zhurong Palace is not the culprit.
In one sense, my heart felt lighter.
If Zhurong Palace had been the culprit, even escaping safely from this place would have been a problem.
On top of that, I had never expected to obtain even a clue.
If I investigate Doyeonmun, I should be able to learn about that culprit.
After putting the book back in place, I returned to the place where we had been dueling.
But then…… someone was approaching this place at high speed.
Huh! This qi is……!
Creeeak.
The door opened, and the owner of that qi revealed themself.
The Zhurong Palace Head looked at Young Palace Head Maeng lying on the floor, then turned her head toward me, who was standing there awkwardly.
“Explain what happened.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
Behind that Zhurong Palace Head, Young Master Hae was restless and at a loss.
There was only one thing I could do.
Explain the situation as calmly as possible, exactly as it was.
“In truth, Young Palace Head Maeng seemed to have something to say to me.” (MC)
That said, I did not say everything he had been intending to do to me.
I am not that petty.
And things like that are more convenient for this side if I keep them as a weakness.
“Young Palace Head Maeng told me not to interfere in his affairs with Young Palace Head Bing Haerin and proposed a duel. When he said he wanted to duel in a quiet place, he guided me here.” (MC)
I continued speaking.
“Though it was a duel, nothing good would come from us drawing blood from one another, so we agreed that the side whose plate tied to their body broke first would lose, and then we dueled. As you can see, the result was……” (MC)
“You won.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Yes. But perhaps because I used too much strength, he ended up fainting.” (MC)
As an extra, I did beat him a few dozen times.
Still, I beat him so it would not show.
Being in pain and not having it show are separate things, but that is none of my business.
“Is that so? But……” (Zhurong Palace Head)
She looked at me and behind me with a strange expression, then turned around.
“Follow me.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Yes.” (MC)
“And get rid of that.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“We obey your command.” (Martial Artists)
The Zhurong Palace Head curtly instructed the martial artists behind her and left the place, and I obediently followed after her.
Rumble.
We passed through the stone door and entered the office.
“This way.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Zhurong Palace Head’s office was divided into a place for audiences and a place for work.
The place she guided me to was the place for work.
It meant she had something confidential to discuss.
“Sit.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I obediently sat in the seat she offered. She stared intently at me and then spoke.
“I could see your footprints.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Pardon?” (MC)
“You deliberately knocked that half-wit son of mine unconscious, then went into the pavilion where this palace’s records are kept.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“……” (MC)
“You may not have known, but the Palace Head can see the footprints there.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I had not known that.
As I was racking my brain over how to make an excuse, she asked.
“So, is Myeonghyeon doing well?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“……Pardon?” (MC)
“Gwak Myeonghyeon. That bastard.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
Ah…….
They did say those two were worthy rivals.
“Your father is the head of the Eunha Trading Company. But if you became the Young Palace Head of Seolpung Palace, that would mean your master is Myeonghyeon. Am I wrong?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“……That is correct.” (MC)
“That damned bastard!” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Zhurong Palace Head burst with indignation.
“If he was alive, would it have killed him to at least send word that he was alive? That son of a bitch who ought to be shoved into a cesspit!” (Zhurong Palace Head)
She was cursing, but I could tell she did not truly mean it.
If it were a real curse, her eyes would not be turning red.
“Ahem, ahem. My apologies. I acted unbecomingly without realizing it.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“It is all right.” (MC)
“So, is that fellow living well?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Yes. He is healthy and well.” (MC)
“That is a relief.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
She looked at me and asked again.
“So, why did you go into that pavilion?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I pondered briefly whether I should tell the truth.
But there was only one answer.
It would not be easy to gloss over with lies, and it was also certain that the other party was not an enemy.
The sincerity she had just shown regarding Master, and the records I had checked earlier.
Moreover, if I wanted to learn about Doyeonmun, it would be better to receive her cooperation.
So…… let’s tell the truth.
“I am sorry to say this, but until I went there earlier, I thought the culprit who caused the disaster at Seolpung Palace was Zhurong Palace.” (MC)
“What?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Palace Head’s face grew fierce.
At a glance, it looked as if she was going beyond utter disbelief and surging with anger.
I quickly continued speaking.
“There is a reason I thought that.” (MC)
“And what is that reason?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I took a whetstone out from my robes.
“Because of this.” (MC)
She examined the whetstone I handed her and asked.
“Why this?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“After the disaster occurred at Seolpung Palace, this was the only evidence about the culprit left there.” (MC)
“This?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Palace Head’s brow furrowed. She examined it closely, then nodded.
She noticed it. That the owner of that whetstone was a martial artist who used the Scorching Flame Arts.
And also that they were a martial artist living in a hot region.
“I see. With this, it is reasonable that you would suspect us. But this is not a whetstone we use.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Are you certain?” (MC)
“Of course. I will explain the reason. As you know, the heat of the Scorching Flame Arts we use is terrifying.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“That is true.” (MC)
“Because of that, there is hardly a day when our blades are in good condition. So we use a whetstone rougher than this. We have to shape the edge of the sword with a rough whetstone.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
Ah…….
“As a result, rather than cutting our opponents, our swords are closer to tearing them apart. The blade becomes like saw teeth.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
Just as the Palace Head said, Young Palace Head Maeng’s sword blade had been like that too.
“……” (MC)
“This does belong to someone who uses the Scorching Flame Arts, but it is a whetstone that would likely be used by those whose sword art has weaker heat than our palace’s.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“I see.” (MC)
She returned the whetstone to me and said.
“So you infiltrated the pavilion to find evidence regarding this?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“I apologize.” (MC)
I bowed my head, clasped my hands, and apologized.
“If you did not break anything, there is no need to apologize. I understand your circumstances well enough. And the one who brought you there was my foolish son.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I felt somewhat awkward.
Because I was the one who had coaxed him.
Still, well, that was his own fault. If he had not bothered me, I would not have used him.
I cautiously opened my mouth.
“There is something I would like to ask you, Palace Head.” (MC)
“What is it?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Do you know about Doyeonmun?” (MC)